2008 Dos & Don'ts Election Edition!

2008 Dos & Don'ts Election Edition!

In November you'll be voting on substance, not style. But women in D.C. know that what they wear still counts. Here, our nominations for the Dos & Don'ts of the 2008 political season. (The candidates tackle weightier issues in our October issue, we swear!)

Photos: Gerald Herbert/AP Images, Scott Olson/Getty Images

Hello, biceps!

"We are so used to women in politics covering their bodies and wearing clothes that don't fit," says D.C.-based stylist Lauren A. Rothman. "Here's a woman who isn't hiding her athleticism."

Photo: Valerie Macon/AFP/Getty Images

Who's she wearing?

Political wives have often stuck to one designer, but Michelle Obama mixes it up. "She's loyal to her personal style," Rothman says.

Photo: Arnold Turner/WireImage.com

Her own beltway

London calls Michelle's belts (like the black favorite on her outfit here) "her single smartest style choice. They emphasize her femininity."

Photo: Darren McCollester/Getty Images

The critics say...

"She favors classic silhouettes, so her hair needs to be more modern," says Stacy London of TLC's What Not to Wear.

Photo: Jae C. Hong/AP Images

She'd veto pantyhose!

Sounds like Michelle wouldn't wear them in the White House: She said on The View, "[They're] painful...and [they] always rip."

Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

The critics say...

"I think she should avoid colors like pale yellow, light blue and khaki," London offers. "On a pale blond they can create a chilly exterior."

Photo: Jeff Chiu/AP Images

She loves her troops

Cindy McCain is a military wife and mother. This pin is a tribute to one of her sons, who's serving in the Marines.

Photo: Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank via AP Images

She brought back the turtleneck!

Her soft T-neck sweaters "look great and make a suit more sporty," says Rothman.